Coin tester and slug eliminator for vending machines



July 30, 1929. o, w, TIMM 1,722,690

COIN TESTER AND SLUG ELIMINATOR FOR VEXQDING MACHINES Filed Feb. 21,1927 Patented .luly 3Q, 1929.

UNITED STATES OTTO W. TIME, OF EAGLE ROCK, CALIFORNIA.

COIN TESTER AND SLUG ELIMINATOR FOR VENDING- MACHINEB.

Application filed February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,731.

more particularly the provision of a coin slot for nickel machines,particularly inasmuch as slugs and washers of the same orapproximatesize and weight of a nickel, are quite commonly encountered.

Usually, in order to correct coins and eliminate them, many and variedtesting devices are incorporated in the slot, each of which in itself isoften quite delicate and readily damaged. 7

It is therefore another object of the invention to test the weight, sizeand bounding qualities of a coin, with a small number of parts. I

My invention contemplates the provision of novel but comparativelysimple means for testing the size and metal of a coin or slugsimultaneously. Such means leaves only the weight untested.

It is another object of the invention to provide for testing the weightof the coin or slug by simple meansin the same chute.

Still other objects and advantages of my invention will appearhereinafter.

I have illustrated my invention byv tlie companying drawings, in whichFigure 1 1s a view in elevation of my complete chute, a portion of thecover being removed to show underlying parts.

Figure 2 is a view in section on a line-22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the parts shown in Fig.2'lying between the numerals 3 and 3 respectively.

, Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in section seen on a line 4.-4 of Fig.1.

In carrying out my invention in the present embodiment, I provide a thinvertically ranging hollow casing comprising a rear wall 8 and aremovable front wall 9; the front wall being shown removed in Fig. 1.Th1 side walls 11 and 12 coact with the other walls detect slugs andinof the casing to provide intercommunicating channel-like spaces 13 and14, respectively. These spaces are in width only slightly greater thanthe thickness of the coin, so that the coin falls through the channelsedgewise, only. The channel 13 is inclined. slightly from vertical, sothat a coin introduced through the opening 15 will roll downwardly alongthe wall 11. 'In the space 14 there is provided a bumper 16. This bumperis preferably in the form of a hard piece of metal agalnst WhlCh a coinwill strike and rebound. Said bumper is placed mainly in a recess 17 ofthe channel 14 so that its major portion is not in line with a coinrolling down through the channel 13. A small end 18 of said bumper is,however, disposed to project into the path of a coin falling through thechannel 13. I The channel, 14 opens broadly from channel 13 away fromthe bumper so that the coin may travel therethrough along the brokenline indicated at 20. The bumper is shown fixed to the rear wall of thecasting by a cap screw 21.

From channel 14, there leads downwardly a discard channel 22, which ispractically in alignment with the channel 13. Any coin passing thebumper Without being deflected will fall into channel 22 and thus beelimi nated.

To the left of channel 14 there is a final channel 23 leading from thebottom of channel 14. An extension 24, to said rear wall, curvesupwardly and forwardly to provide a substantially horizontal surface24*, for a coin to ride upon. This surface forms a continuation '23 tochannel 23, and channel 23 curves so as to direct a coin in a pathparallel to the major axis of the casing. The channels 13 and 14 conveythe coin edgewise while the channel 23 turns the coin until it travelsthrough the channel 23 flat-wise.

In channel 14 and midway between channels 22 and 23, and toward thelower part of the channel 14, there is provided a sepa-' rator 26, whichpresents an upwardly dis posed point 26. Said point is disposedpractically directly in the path of the line 20. From the point 26, asurface 26" leads in a downwardly inclined path toward channel 22. Anopposite surface 26 leads from the point toward the channels 23 and 23".This separator is also in the form of a hard piece of metal secured tothe back wall of the casing.

The casing is provided wit-h lugs 28 whereby it may be properly held tosome fixed member within a vending machine or the like (not shown).Another lug 27 projects down wardly from the bottom wall 24.

For better understanding of the parts to be described later, theoperation of the parts just described will now be explained.

A coin, such as a nickel for instance, for which it is assumed thedevice is designed, is introduced to the slot so that it falls throughchannel 13. This coin enters the upper end of channel 13 on anapproximately horizontal plane so that it cannot be introduced to thechannel 13 at any excess impetus. Thus the coin is impelled downwardlythrough the channel 13 only by gravity, which invariably accelerates allcoins at the same speed through the channel 13. The size of the nickelis such that one edge strikes the bumper and causes the coin to bedeflected through the path 20. The combined deflection and reboundcaused by the bumper causes a good nickel to reach the separator in suchposition that it strikes slightly to the left of the separator and onsurface 26. From here the nickel continues on to channel 23". If thenickel is badly damaged so that a fiat edge strikes the bumper it maynot reach the correct side of the separator and may fall into thediscard channel. If it does not fall into the discard channel, ifunderweight, it will be discarded by means to be described later. A veryworn nickel may reach channel 23, but if it is worn so thin as to beunderweight and not suited for circulation, it too will be discarded bymeans to be described later. I An undersized coin or slug rolling onwall 11 will miss the bumper and will fall directly into the discardchute. If the slug or incorrect coin is ever so slightly undersize itwill not be given the proper deflection to reach the eft hand sile ofthe point of the separator and will accordingly reach the discardchannel. A slug of the right size, but of less resilient character thanthe nickel, will not bounce from the bumper far enough to reach thecorrect position on the. separator and will also be discarded.

In practice, I have found that practically the only bogus coin or slugthe size of a nickel which will reach the channel 23*", is

' one of a diflerent weight, either by reason of its having a hole in itor by reason of being of different metal so close in character .to thenickel as to pass the bumper test. The top surface of bumper 16 is ofcourse correctly inclined to give the desired results.

"Anycoin reaching channel 23 is of the correct diameter. It cannot beappreciabl thicker than the nickel because the cha fore lighter.Therefore,practically all bogus coins or slugs reaching the channel 23are lighter than the nickel.

To eliminate light slugs I provide a channeled member 30 having a lug 31attached to lug 28 and providing a continuation 23 to channel 23*.member is open as at 31 and from there on to its forward end 32, wherethe channel curves outwardly andopens into a discard channel 32. Wherethe bottom wall is open there is placed a balanced trap door 33 hung tothe channel members on pivots 34, carried by said channeled member. Saidtrap door forms a movable continuation to the bottom wall of thechanneled member, and the channeled member is inclined so that acoin'will slide through it on to the door. Rearwardly of the pivots ofthe door is a downwardly ranging extension 35 below the channeledmember. This extension has a screw threaded stem 36 on which is looselythreaded a nut 37, having a depending weight portion 38. This nut isadjusted longitudinally of the stem to correct position, and althoughloosely threaded thereon cannot be torn b vibra tion because of theweight 38. Just orwardly of the door is a hardened metal strike 39 inthe form of a flat plate underlying the forward open end of thechanneled member and forming a further continuation to the bottom wallthereof so that a coin sliding over the door will slide on to the strike39. The

strike 39 presents a striking edge 40 toward the door.

Below the door and the strike there is located an open top chute 41.This chute is provided with lugs 42 aligned with corre- The bottom wall30 of this.

open top. also holding the striker plate Ill If the coin is heavyenough, that is of correct weight, it will depress the trap door beforeit passes over it. sufiiciently to cause the coin to bump the strikingedge of the strike. This arrests the coin and allows it to drop throughthe trap door. If the object reaching the door is other than a nickel,it is almost invariably lighter, for the reason given and will slideover the door into the discai which a coin, will roll edgewise meaeeochannel. The chute continues on from the last mentioned means to deliverthe legiti mate coin to'the coin controlled mechanism which it serves. 3

I claim: In a coin tester, a casing providing a channel having spacedguiding walls on one of by gravity vvithoint contact with the otherwall, a bumper disposed adjacent the other well to deflect 10 a. normalsize disc while permitting a smaller disc to pass, and a deflectordisposed in the normal-path of rebound of a normal size coin from saidbumper OTTO W. TIMM.

